A delegation of the UN Association in Sweden visited the UNFPA supported programme on child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation being implemented in the Abala District in the Afar Region. A total of 12 people composed of staff of the UN Association in Sweden and corporate sponsors contributing funding to the programme participated in the visit which took place between 4 and 6 April 2016.

The integrated programme on child marriage and female genital mutilation which is being implemented in 13 localities in the Abala District was launched in February this year. The programme is partly funded by the UN Association in Sweden with financial contributions from corporate sponsors.

During the visit the delegation was given an overview on the implementation of the programme by Minawora Mohammed, Head of the Abala District Women, Children, and Youth Affairs Office. They also had the chance to go to the implementation site of the programme where they observed the efforts being made by different sections of communities in the fight against child marriage and female genital mutilation. The delegation interacted with various participants of the programme comprising of influential members of communities, married and unmarried girls, and female students in the high school in Abala Town who are benefitting from the support being given by the programme.

This programme is the first of its kind in the Afar Region in integrating child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. The same programme has been in implementation in the Afambo District for the past 3 years.

Meanwhile, the delegation paid a visit to the Mother and Child Rehaibilitation Center which UNFPA is supporting through its Violence Against Women Programme funded by the Royal Netherlands Governnment. The Director of the Center, Mrs. Jutta De Muynck, briefed the delegation about the activities of the center and they were shown around.